Twins. We all know a twin (or two). They might share similar mannerisms or be identical; they might even have twin telepathy.
Digital twins have similar characteristics.
In its’ simplest form, a digital twin is a virtual replica to describe a physical product. They have exploded in popularity and are changing business operations in sectors like manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare. I will not dig into the technical representations of digital twins, but the growing popularity and applicability of digital twins across business sectors make a base understanding important for everyone. At the very least, I want to introduce the concept.
The digital twin is a dynamic virtual representation of an object or system to mirror the life of the physical counterpart and allow for real-time optimization. Real-world examples of these include 3D modeling techniques, power turbines, and utility systems.
The twin in all three examples is a digital companion for the physical system or object. Sensors collect real-world data to to create an up-to-date digital twin, enabling learning and reasoning before making the physical product. Digital twins can reduce product defects for objects that have yet to be manufactured and save resources.
With the developments of artificial intelligence and increasingly precise technology, sensors and data will continue to manipulate and optimize digital twins. In recent years, digital twins have advanced beyond simple physical assets like the examples above and moved into entire systems — “connecting not just one asset, but rather systems of assets or even entire organizations.”
Digital twins can be used to optimize buildings, organizations, and even people as we move towards more and more integration between technology and our daily lives. The watches we wear and phones we carry provide constant flows of data and act as the go-betweens, like the sensors connecting a digital twin and a turbine. Developments in healthcare can create our own personal digital twins to improve care and costs; the use of AI can optimize internal organizational interactions and structure.
This is a shallow dive into digital twin technology and what the future may bring, but reveals enormous opportunities in the space during the upcoming years and decades. As we move towards the Internet of Things, AI, and optimization analytics, digital twins will become a more quotidian element of our lives.